Driving with Children

Driving with Children

Driving with children can be a difficult task. In addition to regular parenting duties, drivers must also worry about the roadways, distractions and car safety. Consumer Reports has identified 6 tips for driving with children in the car.

    1. Buckle Up – Half of teenagers who died in car accidents weren’t wearing a seat belt. Seat belts have shown to have saved over 300,000 lives over the last 50 years.
    2.  Know their place – Children under 12 years of age should always ride in the backseat. Additionally, small children should be secured in an approved child seat.
    3. Secure Gear – Any objects in the car can become projectiles in the event of an accident or harsh breaking. All object should be secure, heavy objects should be on the floor, and children should be buckled up.
    4. Use the Proper Car Seat – More often than not car seats are improperly installed. A local car seat technician can take a look if you are unsure if it is safe for driving with children.
    5. Don’t Text and Drive – Not only is texting and driving unsafe for everyone on the roads, it will teach your children bad habits.
    6. Never Leave Children Unattended – Children can suffer a heatstroke in a hot car. Additionally, children should not play around cars because drivers can suddenly back up and strike a child.
    7. Driving or traveling with children presents additional risks, however the above tips will help increase your odds of driving safely with children. Accidents happen every day however and it is important to know who to call in the event that you and your family are involved in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence.

Who to Call When Driving with Children

The attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, and Purtz have over 50 years experience in personal injury law. Our 6 offices located in Southwest Florida are conveniently located in Fort Myers (2 offices), Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres, and Port Charlotte. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.